The 65-year-old longtime opponent of former president Robert Mugabe has once served as prime minister after the country’s 2008 elections. His loss followed a long political struggle with the government that turned violent and resulted in a power-sharing deal.

Tsvangirai failed to win the 2013 elections and he has since been on and off the political scene following his reported ill health.

His successor in the MDC party is yet to be announced.

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Ismail Akwei is the Head of Content at Face2face Africa. He is an international journalist (digital/ broadcast media), human rights advocate, pan-Africanist, tech enthusiast and a lover of art and culture. He has worked with multinational media companies in three African countries and has over a decade's experience in journalism.